The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-07-28
"TIIE KINGS DAUGHTERS.'
A SlSTERHooD FOR THE PROMO
TON OF BENEVOLENT WORKS.

Ten ladies belonging to New York and
its immediate vicinity met one morning in
January, 1886, at the residence Of
Methodist clergyman, whose wife has long
been conspicuous rs a leader and speaker
in meetings of religious character, and
as connected with evangelStlc work. For
several winters this lady, Mrs. Margaret
Bottome, has given what are called "Bible
Talks" in private drawing rooms for the
benefit of society women. These morning
"talksn have been so popular that she has
been invited to address audiences of the
same character in Washington, Philadcl-
phia, Brooklyn, and other cities, With
rare power of observation keen intclli-
gence, and thorough earncstness, Mrs.
Bottome has made many friends, and
when the ladies' above alluded to gathered
Mt her residence to perfect certain plans
for benevolent work during the impend-
ing season she suggested that they should
then and there form themselves into u
sisterhood, taking the name "The Kings
Daughters" from the forty-fifth Psalm,
where the daughters are described as
''all glorious Within" This suggestion
found immediate favor. All those pres
ent were familiar with the touching origin
of the Lend n Hand society," which pos
sibly some of our readers are not ac-
quainted with, and which it may be well
to repeat here as far as necessary.
THE "LEND A HAND"
A few years ago the Rev. Edward T..
Hale, of Boston, went to suburban town
to attend the funeral services OF one of his
parishioners, a dear friend and Il man of
noble character Several members of his
church were with him, and all were de-
tanned by II railway accident at way sta
ton. Naturally they talked of the de-
ceased, his virtues, his charities and ex-
cellent methods of distributing his wealth
in benevolent work. Mr.. Hale had the
happy thought of perpetuating the men,
DRY of thier mutual friend by organizing Il
society, a brotherhood to carry on his good
works and for the promotion Of all kindly
deeds to their fellow men. There were
just ten of them present, -irrcfuding Mr..
Hale, and so he called it the "Ten So
ciety'' and LEND q Hand" Whatever
they undertook, it should be 'In His
Name" and their motto should be: ..
Look up and not down,
Look forward and not back
Look out ard not in,
And Lend Hand.
The ''Ten'' could form other '.Tens,"
and so on, for any form of beneyolence.
Today it may be mentioned, in passing,
this society or brotherhood extends around
the globe, and publishes q magazine, Lend
Hand, in its interests, of which DR.. Hale
is the editor. With the knowledge OF
these facts, Mrs. Bottomc and her friends
formed their sisterhood, taking the same
motto, and for the main taking the same
methods. They added, however, the wear
ing of a badge, small silver cross of Ahe
Maltese form, signifying perfect love,
tied with set of purple ribbons, signify
ing royalty. Each of the ten ladies agreed
to take some special mission, and each
formed ''Tenn to carry it out. These
Items multiplied rapidly, and on stated
occasions reported progress to the head
center, Mrs. Bottome. There were formed
comforting "Tens'' to visit hospital pa.
tients, to read to them and supply certain
luXuries not allowed by the authorities.
Numbers of these unfortunates have beer
given the little cross, and some have died
after being ennobled with this order
Other "Tens" have gone to the poorest
tenement houses to visit the sick and
dying, while some of the sisterhood have
taken up the wrongs of working girls and
have been kindly interested in shop girls
Indeed, there is hardly form of benevo
lence that has not been adopted by "Tht
Kings Daughters. Each little coterit
or "Ten' has its president, its secretary
and treasurer, and all the central presi
dent, with the original officers as her as
sistants. =
A REMARKABLE SHOWING.
The first annual meeting Of the society
held very recently at the hall of the
Young Ladies Christian association
East Fifteenth street, developed certain
remarkable facts in connection with til,
organization. Its membership Of thou
sands now extends into thirty states
Canada, South America, England an(
New Zealand. Between G,C00 and 7,G0(
members wear the cross and ribbon; Somt
members possess it, but oil jcct TO wearing
it, The society is not cecturian; Protest
ants, Catholics, Hebrews alike are sisters
and there are daughters of all ages, frGn
sweet sixteen to seventy-six or eighty
The social status is alike promiscuous, a
the high bred, aristocratic, accomplished
woman of conventional life and the poo
shop girl are alike sisters" The very
central point of the organization is {
sisterhood for the performance Of kindl!
deeds, however small or humble, upon al
given opportunities.
An illustration of the growing influ
ence of the society was made i'll the rela
ton of the fact that all cur field daisies
which now cover our whole country, com,
from the accidental dropping of Il Ei.ndfu
of seed of the Marguerite" by q French
man some seventy years ago. None O
the poorer members Of the sistcrhood wer'
present, as the midday assemblage pre-
vented their attendance, but they wer,
duly and 1ittingly remembered. wele
| grams of congratulations from very dis
| tant members were read, some Of then
from invalid members, who are also Of Thu
| society known as shut ms, )" numbering
over 20, COO Such messages were intlee,
very pathetic. A '"Ten'' of colorcd mem
| bers was present. Miss Leigh, Of tn
| American and English missions i'll Paris
was present and avowed her intention 0
| forming branch society when she re
| turns to France. Considerable amuse
ment was oceasioned by the reading Of
report from the Hold the Tongue Ten,
| the ladies who have promised not to tall
| gossip of other women-Iot Only not u
| talk, but not to shrug the shoulders whel
other women's names are mentioned
which is so much more cruel than speech
! Circulars were freely given out at III
! close Of the meeting printed in purple
the color of all the printing of the lca!et
and hymns of the society, and there was
| large sale of the cross and ribbon, euc
cross bearing the letters II. ii. N,
standing for the watchword Of the sister
hood, 'In his name. New York World